DUBNetwork - Paul Figler

Strong opening 20 propels Hitmen to Game 3 win

(Calgary, AB) The Calgary Hitmen useed a strong opening 20 minutes to crawl back into this series vs the Lethbridge Hurricane via a 5-3 win. Goaltender Jack McNaughton stood tall with 26 saves while Carson Focht leads the way up front with 2 goals and an assist. Netminder Carl Tetachuk was sensational in the loss with 32 saves keeping his team in it early.

It was all Hitmen early in this one. Calgary dominated the play peppering Hurricanes goalie Tetachuk with 16 shots in the opening period. He stood tall keeping his team in this period. It was the home side opening the scoring early though as Ryder Korzak got his first of the postseason from Riley Stotts. An early lead is just what the Hitmen needed to gain some momentum in the series and they added to it just over a minute later when Focht tapped it in an open cage on a pretty pass from Josh Prokop cross crease. Luke Prokop was also given an assist on Focht’s first of the playoff.

Carson Focht (Andy Devlin)

Hurricanes had one Grade A chance on goalmouth scramble but McNaughton stood tall. Outside a couple of penalties, it was picture perfect for Calgary who took the 2-0 lead into the break. First period shots counted 16-8.

The second period got off to a slow start with neither team taking many chances and it really didn’t feel like a playoff contest. But business picked up when the Hitmen increased the lead to 3-0 when a lucky bounce fell Josh Prokop’s away and found its way over Tetachuk. The three-goal lead was short lived, however, just 38 seconds later it was a two on one goal for the Hurricanes when Dylan Cozens fired home a Taylor Ross pass on a give and go. That goal was Cozens second of the playoffs and seemed to energize the visitors.

Hurricanes continued to push and took over the momentum of the game and were rewarded with a power play but unable to cash in, but in sticking with it the hard work would pay. With under three minutes to play, 15-year-old rookie, Zach Stringer notched his first career playoff goal and pulled the Hurricanes within one. Stringer was in the right place right time to finish off the play, Zachary Cox and Justin Hall had the assists. Final shots after 40 still favoured the home side at 24-20.

Cozens (photo-Tyler Barrett/Hurricanes)

A one goal game heading into the third period usually means it’s time to buckle up for an intensity filled 20 minute ride, This game was no different. These two foes traded chance early in the frame but it was the Hitmen who would break through at the 6:13 mark of the period on the power play. Focht scored the first power-play goal of the series for Calgary and restored a two-goal lead at 4-2. Cael Zimmerman and Egor Zamula got the helpers on the play. Hurricanes refused to go away easy in this one and battled back though. They answered back onĀ  Cozens’ second of the night. Nick Henry found the Yukon native alone in the slot and he made no mistake bringing his team back within one.

That was as close as this one would get even with the valiant effort of the Hurricanes and with the goalie pulled they were unable to find the tying goal. Calgary then salted it away late with an empty-net goal from Luke Coleman and got the win to pull themselves back into the series. Lethbridge still has the series lead at 2-1 with game 4 coming Thursday in Calgary.